What is an educational Wikispace? Wikispaces are collaborative virtual websites.Through Wikispaces students enter an online platform, which allow each user to create, edit and revise content . Students together are able to co-construct a common pool of knowledge using text, sound, images and videos. Wikispaces have been hailed as transformative constructivist technology, as teachers adapt their methodology to become scaffolders of learning, and forge a student centred and driven environment.
Encourage collaboration and builds teamwork skills
Peer evaluation
Encourage higher order thinking and reflective practice
Scaffolding student learning
Individualising student learning
Facilitate and document collaboration among class members
Use photos, YoutTube clips and diagrams to illustrate learning
When can you utilise Wikispace in the classroom?
Collaboration of notes and ideas
Co-constructed essays or reports
Concept introduction and exploratory projects
Individual assessment projects
Let's Get Started! How do Wikispaces work? Educational Wikispaces allow the teacher/administer to have omniscient control over the functionings and content of the entire site. Once students have been added into the Wiki account, students are assigned to a page/group. That page becomes a canvas of students work. Each student can construct, edit and develop there ideas on the assigned page. Teachers can document what work has been achieved by each student.
wikispace_photo_2.png
How do I create a Wikispace for my class?
Create an account.
1.Create an account at http://www.wikispaces.com/content/for/teachers 2. Once on the Wikispace website, click on the option for “wiki’s for individuals and groups” . 3. A sign in page will present which will ask you the following questions: -Username ( You might use a pseudonym ) - Password ( Important : the password must be atleast six (6) characters long) -School e-mail address 3. Click “yes” for the option of “Make a Wiki”. 4. Choose a space name (it has to be letters, numbers or hyphens with no spaces). Consider selecting a name representing your class. 5. For space Visibility, click “Protected”. This allows only the people who are selected ( teachers or students) to work and change content on page. 6. Under the title “Educationsl Use” click the box to state that your space is for K- 12 use. ( It is normally $50/year to anyone not in K -12) . 7. Record your user name, password and space name down before continuing. 8. Click the “join” button. 9. You will now be taken to your Wikispace "home" page.
Create a home page.
The homepage is the first point of contact for students when accessing the Wikispace. You as the administrator create, edit and revise the homepage, while choosing to have complete control over it's content. The homepage can act somewhat as a title page for wesbite, or it can set out the guidelines for the task and the goals for students to complete. Furthermore, Wikispaces are forums for creativity, the more inventive you are with content and layout the more engaging your Wikispace will be. Below is an example a homepage from a Leenva Shearling's educational Wikispace.
Editing
1. Click the 'Edit " button. A tool box should appear at the top of the page.You can now type in your home page message or welcome page. 2. To format your text in any way, you will need to highlight the text and then use the buttons on the tool bar. 3. When you have finished with your content, press the save button.
Text Options
1. Press 'Font and text colour options" to change front, text and background colours. You can slo change the alignment of the text on the page. 2. Click "apply styles" when you have finished selecting.
Uploading files and images
1. Click on the file button in the edit tool bar. The below pop up will appear.
2. Insert Files - Files on computer - Click the "Upload file" button to select an image or document from your computer. - Click "browse" to locate and select image/file. - Click 'Upload'.
3.External Image
- Click the "External Image" button to upload an image that is housed online on a wesbite. - Copy the Url ( Highlight the text and press Ctrl C) and paste into the tab box provided ( Ctril V). - Click 'Upload'.
Embedding objects from other websites 1. Click on the 'Widget' tool in the edit toolbar ( the tool looks like a TV). 2. A pop-up window will open with a List of applications for your Wikispace.
Below an outlline of the applications.
Adding a movie from Youtube
1. Select the desired Youtube Clip 2. Click on the "share" button. A option to "embed" the clip should appear. 3. Click on "Embed" and a code will appear. 4. Copy the code ( highlighting and Ctrl + C)
Once you have copied the embed code, you can embed it into your wiki by: 1. Click 'Edit' on your Wikispace. 2. Click to the page in which you desire the clip to appear. 3. Click the 'Widget' (TV) button on the toolbar. 4. Click on the video option, and then on the Youtube button. 5. Paste ( Ctrl + V) in the embed code that you copied into the empty white box. 6. Click on save. 7. The video will only appear after you have pressed save.
Editing content from other Sources You can add objects from other websites similarly to the above method. You need to find the Embed code from the wesbite. Then, click on the Widget tool to paste the Embed code. 1. Click on the Widget tool ( TV ) on the edit bar. 2. Click option for 'other Html'. 3. Paste in Embed code. 4. Press 'save'.
Create student accounts
You have created your homepage and set your task. It is time to add your students. E-mail addresses are not required to add students. You can make your own user name and passwords and then allocate these to students.
1. Select manage Wki on the side tool bar. 2.Under people, select the user creator
User Creator
3. Choose the Wiki you would like to add the users to.
4. Enter your user names and passwords either through excel or as text.
Contents
- What is an educational Wikispace?
-What are the benefits?
-When can you use a Wikispace in the classroom?
-How do Wikispace work?
-How do I create a Wikispace in the classroom?
-Editing a Wikispace
What is an educational Wikispace?
Wikispaces are collaborative virtual websites.Through Wikispaces students enter an online platform, which allow each user to create, edit and revise content . Students together are able to co-construct a common pool of knowledge using text, sound, images and videos. Wikispaces have been hailed as transformative constructivist technology, as teachers adapt their methodology to become scaffolders of learning, and forge a student centred and driven environment.
Take a look at the 2011 Edublog Educational Wikispace award winners at http://blog.wikispaces.com/2012/01/best-educational-wikis-of-2011.html.
What are the Benefits?
When can you utilise Wikispace in the classroom?
Let's Get Started!
How do Wikispaces work?
Educational Wikispaces allow the teacher/administer to have omniscient control over the functionings and content of the entire site. Once students have been added into the Wiki account, students are assigned to a page/group. That page becomes a canvas of students work. Each student can construct, edit and develop there ideas on the assigned page. Teachers can document what work has been achieved by each student.
How do I create a Wikispace for my class?
Create an account.1.Create an account at http://www.wikispaces.com/content/for/teachers
2. Once on the Wikispace website, click on the option for “wiki’s for individuals and groups” .
3. A sign in page will present which will ask you the following questions:
-Username ( You might use a pseudonym )
- Password ( Important : the password must be atleast six (6) characters long)
-School e-mail address
3. Click “yes” for the option of “Make a Wiki”.
4. Choose a space name (it has to be letters, numbers or hyphens with no spaces). Consider selecting a name representing your class.
5. For space Visibility, click “Protected”. This allows only the people who are selected ( teachers or students) to work and change content on page.
6. Under the title “Educationsl Use” click the box to state that your space is for K- 12 use. ( It is normally $50/year to anyone not in K -12) .
7. Record your user name, password and space name down before continuing.
8. Click the “join” button.
9. You will now be taken to your Wikispace "home" page.
Create a home page.
The homepage is the first point of contact for students when accessing the Wikispace. You as the administrator create, edit and revise the homepage, while choosing to have complete control over it's content. The homepage can act somewhat as a title page for wesbite, or it can set out the guidelines for the task and the goals for students to complete. Furthermore, Wikispaces are forums for creativity, the more inventive you are with content and layout the more engaging your Wikispace will be. Below is an example a homepage from a Leenva Shearling's educational Wikispace.Editing
1. Click the 'Edit " button. A tool box should appear at the top of the page.You can now type in your home page message or welcome page.2. To format your text in any way, you will need to highlight the text and then use the buttons on the tool bar.
3. When you have finished with your content, press the save button.
Text Options
1. Press 'Font and text colour options" to change front, text and background colours. You can slo change the alignment of the text on the page.2. Click "apply styles" when you have finished selecting.
Uploading files and images
1. Click on the file button in the edit tool bar. The below pop up will appear.
2. Insert Files - Files on computer- Click the "Upload file" button to select an image or document from your computer.
- Click "browse" to locate and select image/file.
- Click 'Upload'.
3.External Image
- Click the "External Image" button to upload an image that is housed online on a wesbite.- Copy the Url ( Highlight the text and press Ctrl C) and paste into the tab box provided ( Ctril V).
- Click 'Upload'.
Embedding objects from other websites
1. Click on the 'Widget' tool in the edit toolbar ( the tool looks like a TV).
2. A pop-up window will open with a List of applications for your Wikispace.
Below an outlline of the applications.
Adding a movie from Youtube
1. Select the desired Youtube Clip2. Click on the "share" button. A option to "embed" the clip should appear.
3. Click on "Embed" and a code will appear.
4. Copy the code ( highlighting and Ctrl + C)
Once you have copied the embed code, you can embed it into your wiki by:
1. Click 'Edit' on your Wikispace.
2. Click to the page in which you desire the clip to appear.
3. Click the 'Widget' (TV) button on the toolbar.
4. Click on the video option, and then on the Youtube button.
5. Paste ( Ctrl + V) in the embed code that you copied into the empty white box.
6. Click on save.
7. The video will only appear after you have pressed save.
Editing content from other Sources
You can add objects from other websites similarly to the above method. You need to find the Embed code from the wesbite. Then, click on the Widget tool to paste the Embed code.
1. Click on the Widget tool ( TV ) on the edit bar.
2. Click option for 'other Html'.
3. Paste in Embed code.
4. Press 'save'.
Create student accounts
You have created your homepage and set your task. It is time to add your students. E-mail addresses are not required to add students. You can make your own user name and passwords and then allocate these to students.1. Select manage Wki on the side tool bar.
2.Under people, select the user creator
3. Choose the Wiki you would like to add the users to.
4. Enter your user names and passwords either through excel or as text.
View A Youtube Clip about creating Wikispaces!